It’s too early to tell whether you’re pregnant just by looking at progesterone. The test can really only tell if you ovulated. I think it depends by lab, but my doctor said a level of >5 confirms that you ovulated, but they really want to see >10 in a natural cycle. (More like >15 in a medicated cycle.)

NowandLater: You cannot confirm pregnancy by a progesterone level alone unfortunately, but it will confirm you have ovulated. Each doctor is a little different, but I think they want your progesterone to be over 10 for an unmedicated cycle, over 20 for a medicated cycle to sustain a pregnancy. I think they like to see the number in the teens or higher. My last CD21 progesterone draw at 8DPO was over 50, but that was a medicated cycle and I was on progesterone supplements since previous cycle draw unmedicated and without supplements were next to nothing. I had ovulated that cycle because we got pregnant but it was a chemical pregnancy, no doubt because I had progesterone to sustain it.

KatieBklyn:lastlastfirst: Thanks ladies. Very helpful. If my level is deemed too low, will the Dr assess this to prescribe progesterone supplements? I was on 50mg clomid and will be trying 100mg next cycle.

NowandLater: I’m on femara and I know that even though I ovulate on my own they put me on it for a stronger ovulation, to help produce progesterone and to thicken my uterine lining. A luteal phase defect such as low progesterone can be helped by progesterone supplements, but that’s just a bandaid…you need to address the follicular phase for the cause of the defect. Once someone explained it to me that way it all made so much more sense to me! I’d assume that since you’re on clomid, then you wouldn’t have a problem with your progesterone level as long as you ovulated, but thats just my guess. I believe if for some reason your level was too low to sustain a pregnancy at this point it’d be too late to start supplements for this cycle, unless you’re just borderline low. I wouldn’t worry though! Keep us updated with your results!

I second lastlastfirst – my understanding is that a low progesterone level at 7/8 dpo is the result of a weak ovulation – and thus, it’s the weak ovulation (with an immature or somehow defective egg) rather than the low progesterone that’s keeping you from getting pregnant. So basically the doctor is looking to see whether that dose of Clomid gave you a good strong ovulation or a weak crappy one. (For lack of a better way to describe it!)